Ahimsa Center @ Cal Poly's K-12 Curriculum Site

In 2011, Kristy Smith, Gina Pagel, and I attended a 2-week summer institute at Cal Poly Pomona called "Journeys of Nonviolence."  It was the inspiration behind this entire program, and it has transformed the work that I do in the classroom.  Dr. Tara Sethia started the program and is incredibly inspiring and passionate about her work.  During the two-week institute we completed ample reading, writing, viewing, and reflecting about Gandhian nonviolence and its impacts on other nonviolent movements in the United States (particularly Cesar Chavez and the farmworkers' movement.  In 2007, the institute focused on MLK Jr., and this year it focuses on sustainability).



Anyway, a requirement for the institute is the creation of 2 standards-based lessons plans incorporating course content.  Professor Sethia then has TAs give us feedback on the lesson plans, which we revise, edit, and resubmit -- and then they are published at the Ahimsa Center website.  I thought you all might be interested in using it as a resource, so here it is!  Again, each lesson is standards based, and includes a content essay to help build your background knowledge.

Click here for Ahimsa Center K-12 Nonviolence Curriculum

Some examples of lessons on the site:

• "Gandhi's Self-Rule and Democracy in the Classroom," by our own Kristy Smith!  (grades 5-8, Social Science)
• "Interculturalism and Immigration: A Nonviolent Approach," by our own Gina Pagel! (K-8 Social Studies/Spanish)
• "Gandhi and Lord of the Flies: Does 'the apparel proclaim the man'?", by yours truly :) (HS English)

Other Lessons:

"Need vs. Wants in Creating Sustainable Communities," 9th grade Earth Science

"Ahimsa in the Real World: Truth, Love, and Nonviolence," 2nd grade

"Cesar Chavez as a Role Model for Creating Responsible Citizens and a Caring Community," K-2 (by Jami Arnst, who was here in India with us last summer!)

"Unpacking Nonviolence: A Family Night Activity," Middle school family night event

"The Way You Dream: Gandhi and King’s Visions of Nonviolence," HS Humanities

"Integrating Gandhian Principles of Communal Unity in Mathematics," Grades 4-6

"Consumer Confusion: Wants versus Needs and Gandhi’s Wisdom," Grade 4 Social Studies